Combined supporting ring and safety closure device for fire extinguishers



COMBINED SUPPORTING RING AND SAFETY CLOSURE DEVICE FOR FIRE EXTING-UISHERS Filed April 3, 1944 June 26, 1945. C ouss u 2,379,378

Patented June 26, 1945 COMBINED SUPPORTING RING AND SAFETY CLOSURE DEVICE FOR FIRE EXTIN- GUISHERS Claude Rousseau, Montmagny, Quebec, Canada Application April 3, 1944, Serial No. 529,319 In Canada December 8, 1943 6 Claims. (01. 248-415) This invention relates to a combined supporting ring and safety closure device for fire extinguishers and particularly for fire extinguishers of that type comprising a reservoir, provided at or near its upper portion with a suitable handle for carrying it, and provided in its top with a filling opening and with a discharge outlet, with which latter is connected a hose for directing the fire extinguishing liquid on the fire.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient, reliable and inexpensive construction of supporting device for supporting the extinguisher on a wall or like supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for fastening the supporting device in place on the extinguisher and preventing the extinguisher from being removed and tampered with without giving visual evidence of such fact.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel fastening means for the supporting ring and fastener sealing means whereby the fastening means is guarded and access to it prevented until the sealing means is broken.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means operative when the supporting device is applied to prevent access to the filling opening or removal of the hose'and exposure of the discharge outlet.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred practical embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device removed from the fire extinguisher but shown in fastened position, a portion of the guard casing being broken away to show the fastening means.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device in closed condition.

Fig. 3 is a top planview of the device in open condition.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device as applied to the top of a fire extinguisher, showing the handle.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fire extinguisher and supporting device applied thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the supporting device is shown as comprising a split ring or band i to snugly embrace the fire extinguisher tank F adjacent its top 1. Mounted on the top I is a pump P, of suitable type, and having an operating handle 10. The top 1 is provided with a filling inlet j, which may be normally closed by a cap or cover f and with a discharge outlet f with which is suitably connected the inlet of the discharge hose H, which is preferably fitted at its free end with a discharge nozzle. The tank F may be provided with the otherwise fastened thereto. a

usual bail-shaped carrying handle it pivotedor The ring or band I isformed of three sections l l l. The section I forms substantially one half of the band, the sections I and 1, forming the other half, being relatively shorter. Atthe rear of the band the adjacent ends of thesections areconnected to each other by a hinge pintle 2, which also connects the band sections to bracket plates 3. These bracket plates are formed with openings for passage of 'fastenings whereby the bracket plates may be secured to a wall or other vertical surface to support the band therefrom. The front end of the section l is similarly connected to the rear end of the section 1 by ahinge pintle 4. By this construction the band is adapted to be opened or closed by swinging movements of the sectionsi and l on the pintle 2. In these operations the section I swings with the section l asa unit,,but is adapted to be independently swung inwardly and outwardly on the pintle 4 to close or open the throat formed by and between the front ends ofv the sections l and l The upper edges of the sections IF and I and hinged part of section I of the band I are adapted, when-the band is fittedabout the tank F, to lie fiush'with the top) of the tank. "T0 relieve the brackets 3 from strain due to the weight of the tank, the tank in practice may be rested at its bottom on the fioor or a bracket secured to the wall below the brackets s, so that the bandneeds to serve only as a means to hold the tank from shifting laterally out ofposition "andto guard the tank from being tampered with in the ways described. The section I of the band forms a latch section to hold the band closed and as a guard to cover the inlet J" and outlet to prevent surreptitious withdrawal of the extinguishing fiuid and the introduction of any other to take its place. To this end the section 1 is made of novel form and construction, as I will now proceed to describe.

As shown, the end 5 of the section 1 which is hinged by the pintle 4 to the section l conforms in curvature to the sections I and I and is arranged edgewise vertically; but the remainder of said section I is offset to form a horizontally disposed, inwardly projecting V-shaped guard I, having branches or limbs i, i, and a vertical V- shaped connecting portion i 'between the hinged part 5 and the limb 1'. When the band is secured in position about the tank the guard I extends over the tank top I and the limb 2' partially overlies the outlet I while the intermediate portion of the guard overlies the inlet F. The limb i of the guard is formed with a V-portion i and terminates in a perforated fastening tongue 6. The tongue 6 is adapted to be passed through a keeper slot or opening I in the free end of the band section l and to be engaged by a fastening pin or other fastening member 8 to hold the band in closed position about the tank. Fixed to the outer face of said end of the section I is a guard casing or hood 9 within which the fastening members 6 and 8 are enclosed when in engaged position. The outer side of this casing is normally closed by a cover or shield ID of paper or other disruptible material which prevents access to the fastening members until it is disrupted or torn away. Attached at one end to the casing 9 is a disrupting string H, which extends underthe cover and then inwardly-with its opposite end exposed so as to be grasped and manipulated. When it is necessary to use the fire extinguisher the cover I is torn open by pulling the string l I, whereupon ac'cess may be obtained to-remove the pin 8, allowing the band I to be opened to free the fire extinguisher. The V- shaped portions i and i adapt the guard to fit over the edge of the top of the tank, as will be readily understood.

As stated and shown when the band is secured in position the guard I overlies the filling inlet f and prevents removal of its cover so that the extinguishing fluid cannot beremoved or any substitute introduced therethrough. The guard limb i is formed with a notch I2- to receive and engage a portion of the coupling of the hose engaged with the outlet nipple f, the edgewall of which notch thus partially embraces apart of the coupling, whereby manipulation and disengagement of the coupling is prevented. This notch also locks the coupling to the extinguisher against any rotary movement allowing the limb i= to be moved out of position to'expose the outlet and allow the coupling to' be released. In the band are formed offsets is providing recesses to receive and interlock with the side portions of the-handle h, allowing'the band to fit snugly against the tank at these points and serving to additionally lock the-tank against rotation.-

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1."A- fire extinguisher support, comprising a supporting bracket, and a ring for holding the said fire extinguisher, the said ring comprising hinged members, and fastening means for holding the members closed about the extinguisher, and said ring including a guard to overlie the top of theeXtinguisher and cover an opening therein.

2. A fire extinguisher holding ring for a fire extinguisher having a charging orifice and a discharge orifice for connection with a hose in its top, said ring having a guard portion to overlie the top of the said fire extinguisher and to cover the charging orifice, said guard portion also having a notch for passage of the discharge hose of the fire extinguisher 3. A fire extinguisher support for a fire extinguisher having a filling orifice and an outlet for connection with a discharge hose in its top, said support comprising a supporting bracket and a holding ring formed of two main sections hinged at their rear ends to the bracket section hinged at one end to the front end of one of the main sections, the said ring having diametrically opposed recesses in said main sections to receive and interlock with the ends of the carrying handle of the said fire extinguisher, said latch section of'the ring being provided with a guard portion to overlie the top of the said fire extinguisher and to cover the charging orifice, and said guard portion having a notch for passage of the discharge hose of the fire extinguisher and having at itsiree end a perforated lug toengage an opening in the front end of the other main section, a fastening pin passing through the perforation in the said lug, a casing enclosing said fastenings and sealed with a disruptible membrane, and means for disrupting said membrane.

4. In a support for a fire extinguisher tank having an aperture in its top, a split band adapted to encircle the tank near its top, means for securing the band in position, and a guard carried by the band to overlie and prevent access to said aperture.

5. In a support for a fire extinguisher tank having an inlet orifice and a discharge orifice in its top, said discharge orifice having connection with a discharge hose, a split band adapted to encircle the tank near its top, means for securing the band in position, and guard means carried by the band and to project over the tank top and including portions overlying said orifices.

6. In a support for a fire extinguisher tank having an aperture in its top, a band formed of hinged main sections and a latch section hinged to one of the main sections, means for fastening the latch to the other main section, a guard casing on said main section to enclose the fastening means and having a disruptible closure, and guard means on the latch section to extend over upon the top of the tank andoverlie and guard said aperture.

CLAUDE ROUSSEAU. 

